Isnt it amazing how 1 simple little phone call can change the entire direction of one of those BLAAAHHHH days? The “blaahhhness” all started out a couple days ago with the discovery of a bad NEW piston for my KX500. I discovered a flaw in the casting of this Pro-X piston and was having a HECK of time getting any co-operation from LA Sleeve (same company) about it. I made the call to them at 9 am and caught one of their techy’s at work. He said “sorry, you have to talk the owner of the Company about getting it replaced and he wont be in till 9 (they are in California). OK, back to work for me.. Of course the “Pres” never did return my call, what does he care whether or not My 5 is ready to kick butt Sunday or not :) For a late lunch break I decided to go over to Larry’s and get his opinion of the piston (Larry is boat mechanic – REAL sharp!!). As I was walking out the door Randy Sneller called and said he was BORED brainless and wanted to go RIDING real BAD. I laughed and said “My bike is still down and we have 3 inches of fresh powder here” – he moaned and hung up :) Friends like Randy can be so disconcerting..
I headed to Larry’s and Cedar Creek is right on the way. I couldn’t help but notice that Cedar Creek had gotten no where near the snow that we had in Ravenna. The day was starting to look better already!! Larry agreed with my assumption on the piston – the flaw was in a very vulnerable spot - just didn’t look good!! I told him that Randy had called and reminded me that it was ride day. Larry’s eyes lit up as I told him that Cedar was not looking to bad. We called Randy from Larry’s and agreed to meet at Cedar Creek at 3:30 pm.
Larry and I talked a while longer and by the time I headed home to get my DR100 it was 3:05. I passed Randy coming off the highway at US31 and M-120 with his bike in tow and knew I was going to be the late one this time :) Got home, loaded the mini-bike in the van and headed to Cedar..
The North loop looked the best so that is the direction Randy on his XR200, Larry on his CR250 and I on my DR100 went. As we were crossing the road into the trailhead another 2 truck loads of riders were coming in!! Like I said, the day was looking up!
My little DR has a bald rear nob and NO screws in front or back. It did surprising well until we came to the first snow covered area. It had a tendency to want to “cross-up” anytime it was faced with this condition. Really kinda fun on a little bike but it would get VERY tiring on a full sized machine! Randy and Larry both had screws so they let me lead just to be nice – at least that’s what they said…
Of course, anyone who has ridden with a 210 pound man riding a mini cycle with bald tires on a partially snowed up trail knows that you don’t choose to follow the guy because you want to be nice! You follow them for the entertainment and the drama. I put on the best show that I could with plenty of slide outs and lots of “OH MY GOSHHH, I CANT STOP” routines!!! The ground was THAWED in most places but just about the time I thought I could rely on some “diggin in side action” I would find that not thawed spot and sideways she go – couldn’t imagine anything with more then 10 horse without screws in these conditions though. Most of the high berms that the North trail is known for were thawed and clear of snow so I did have a WOT riot on those with the little bugger!
About 2/3rds way around the loop and I smelled cigarette smoke in the woods. Sure enough, within five minutes we were passing by the other group of riders standing on the side of the trail taking a break. They cheered me on (or maybe they were laughing at me – hard to tell when your having fun) as I went by, I doubled a set of whoops for them.
Just before you re-cross Cedar Creek on the second bridge going counterclockwise on the trail there is a pretty steep sand hill with HUGE sides on it (funny – I don’t remember that trench being that deep on my 5). I was tapped in third on the approach and hit some slush. I am more woods oriented then MX and very seldom drop a foot when cornering so it was a natural thing for me to stay on the pegs while the little bike thrashed toward one of the banks. I stayed on the pegs while the little bike and I were being dogged down by the dirt from the trail edge against my body. I just rode it till it stopped with my body at about a 30 degree angle to the ground. Randy and I have this thing going about keeping record when we fall. He said I fell – I said I didn’t. I said it was kinda like horse shoes – that was a “leaner” and didn’t count on my record as a fall.. Larry, the final judge in most of these childish games, was long gone, finally getting bored with my slow progress on the trail.
WE finished out the North loop and crossed Ryerson Road west of the trail head. The section of trail from that point back to the lot was definitely the worst area as far as snow goes. We didn’t take the time to go ride any of the south side, perhaps we can do that on Sundays ride if we go!!
Loaded up the bikes and headed for the Resturant for meeting of the minds. 3 hours of bench racing later and I was home..
Sure felt good to get out!
Woodsy
I headed to Larry’s and Cedar Creek is right on the way. I couldn’t help but notice that Cedar Creek had gotten no where near the snow that we had in Ravenna. The day was starting to look better already!! Larry agreed with my assumption on the piston – the flaw was in a very vulnerable spot - just didn’t look good!! I told him that Randy had called and reminded me that it was ride day. Larry’s eyes lit up as I told him that Cedar was not looking to bad. We called Randy from Larry’s and agreed to meet at Cedar Creek at 3:30 pm.
Larry and I talked a while longer and by the time I headed home to get my DR100 it was 3:05. I passed Randy coming off the highway at US31 and M-120 with his bike in tow and knew I was going to be the late one this time :) Got home, loaded the mini-bike in the van and headed to Cedar..
The North loop looked the best so that is the direction Randy on his XR200, Larry on his CR250 and I on my DR100 went. As we were crossing the road into the trailhead another 2 truck loads of riders were coming in!! Like I said, the day was looking up!
My little DR has a bald rear nob and NO screws in front or back. It did surprising well until we came to the first snow covered area. It had a tendency to want to “cross-up” anytime it was faced with this condition. Really kinda fun on a little bike but it would get VERY tiring on a full sized machine! Randy and Larry both had screws so they let me lead just to be nice – at least that’s what they said…
Of course, anyone who has ridden with a 210 pound man riding a mini cycle with bald tires on a partially snowed up trail knows that you don’t choose to follow the guy because you want to be nice! You follow them for the entertainment and the drama. I put on the best show that I could with plenty of slide outs and lots of “OH MY GOSHHH, I CANT STOP” routines!!! The ground was THAWED in most places but just about the time I thought I could rely on some “diggin in side action” I would find that not thawed spot and sideways she go – couldn’t imagine anything with more then 10 horse without screws in these conditions though. Most of the high berms that the North trail is known for were thawed and clear of snow so I did have a WOT riot on those with the little bugger!
About 2/3rds way around the loop and I smelled cigarette smoke in the woods. Sure enough, within five minutes we were passing by the other group of riders standing on the side of the trail taking a break. They cheered me on (or maybe they were laughing at me – hard to tell when your having fun) as I went by, I doubled a set of whoops for them.
Just before you re-cross Cedar Creek on the second bridge going counterclockwise on the trail there is a pretty steep sand hill with HUGE sides on it (funny – I don’t remember that trench being that deep on my 5). I was tapped in third on the approach and hit some slush. I am more woods oriented then MX and very seldom drop a foot when cornering so it was a natural thing for me to stay on the pegs while the little bike thrashed toward one of the banks. I stayed on the pegs while the little bike and I were being dogged down by the dirt from the trail edge against my body. I just rode it till it stopped with my body at about a 30 degree angle to the ground. Randy and I have this thing going about keeping record when we fall. He said I fell – I said I didn’t. I said it was kinda like horse shoes – that was a “leaner” and didn’t count on my record as a fall.. Larry, the final judge in most of these childish games, was long gone, finally getting bored with my slow progress on the trail.
WE finished out the North loop and crossed Ryerson Road west of the trail head. The section of trail from that point back to the lot was definitely the worst area as far as snow goes. We didn’t take the time to go ride any of the south side, perhaps we can do that on Sundays ride if we go!!
Loaded up the bikes and headed for the Resturant for meeting of the minds. 3 hours of bench racing later and I was home..
Sure felt good to get out!
Woodsy
